Oxfam staff prepared to respond as hurricane Matthew remains strong in the Caribbean
Hurricane Matthew continues its trajectory in the center of the Caribbean region. Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and Dominican Republic are already experiencing heavy rains and high speed winds, that will worsen in the following 24 hours. Matthew already went through the Caribbean Coast of Colombia, leaving one person dead and several flooded areas in Magdalena and La Guajira departments.
Matthew is still a dangerous category 4 hurricane in the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Evacuations are taking place, as 5 to 8 meter waves are expected in coastal areas. In Dominican Republic more than 10,000 people have been evacuated. In Haiti, the government has set up shelters to assist 340,000 people. Haiti´s West department (including capital Port-au-Prince) is considered very vulnerable due to its population density and high levels of poverty.
Oxfam staff in Cuba, Haiti and Dominican Republic continue to monitor the hurricane and have been carrying out preparations which include activating contingency plans, verifying humanitarian stock, and preparing teams to carry out immediate needs assessment. Oxfam has also contacted partners, UN and government agencies at the national level in order to respond with due diligence and coordination to the aftermath.
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For interviews with spokespeople in Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, contact: